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, E. SCHNEIDER. APPARATUS FOR EXTENDING THE LIMITS 01 ELEVATION 0F WHEELED GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. 1918.

1 ,3 1 0, 1 47 Patented July 15, 1919.

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E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR EXTENDING THE LIMITS OF ELEVATION 0F WHEELED GUNS.

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[Zarrzqa APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11% I9I8.

Patented July 15, 1919.

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E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR EXTENDING THE LIMITS OF ELEVATION. 0F WHEELED GUNS.

APPLICATION'FILED SEPT. l3, l9l8.

Patented July 15, 1919:

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WW W MFVMW THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 420., WASHINGTON. D. c.

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} E.fSCHNlDER. APPARATUS FOR EXTENDING THE LIMITS OF ELEVATION 0F WHEELED GUNS.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. .13, 1918.

Patented July 15, 1919.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

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EUGENE'SOHNEIDER, 0E rams, FRANCE, 'AssIenoE '1'0 scnn mnn-acrn, on PARIS, FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY or FRANCE.-

.AJEPARATUS FOR EXTENDING THE LIMITS OF ELEVATION OF WHEELED GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd July 15, 1919- I Application filed September 13, 1918. Serial No. 253,989.

tion.

This invention has for its object to pro vide an improved apparatus applicable to wheeled guns for the purpose of extending their limits of elevation.

The improved apparatus consists substan-,

tially of'a trail head comprising two pairs of bearings arranged at different levels for the trunnions of the gun cradle, the axes of these bearings being situated on one and the same are of a circle having for its center the axis of the driving pinion or pinions of the elevatlng sector or sectors. The improved apparatus allows of bringing the trunnions of the gun cradle alternately into the lower bearings or into the upper bearings without this change of position affecting appreciably the relative position of the parts of the elevating mechanism of the gun.

Some practical constructions embodying this invention are illustrated .by way of exmple in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in sec- .tion of a trail gun carriage provided with the improved apparatus, the gun cradle being shown with its trunnions situated in the lower bearings of the improved trail head.

Fig. 2 is a similar view wherein the gun cradle is shown with its trunnion situated in the upper bearings for the purpose of firingathigh angles of elevation.

ig. .3 is a cross section drawn to a larger scale on. the line III- 111 of Fig. 2.

I igs. 4 and 5 are respectively a partial side elevation and a cross-section on the :line'V V of Fig. 4 of a modification wherein the cradle trunnions are mounted in bearing steps.

Figs. 6, and 8 illustrate a second practi- ';cal: construction embodying the invention.

' Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section,

' 9f the improved trail head with double headings.

Fig. 7 is a corresponding half plan, and

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

Figs. ;9 and 10 show in side elevation and cross-section respectively a construction wherein one or both cheeks of the trail head are provided with a rack projecting at the side of the track that connects the trunnion bearing surfaces.

A is a gun barrel of any known type, adapted'to recoil in a gun cradle B. C is the carriage trail. The elevating mechanism comprises the known constructlon of one or two toothed sectors D carried by the cradle engaging with cooperating pinions E fixed on a shaft 6 journaled in the cheeks of the trail or in a stay C connecting the cheeks.

-In the first modification the two bearings situated at different levels consist, as regards each cradle trunnion b, of two bearing surfaces F and F formed at the respective ends of a circular track G having its center in the geometricaxis of the shaft 6. It is to be understood that the curvature of the bearing surfaces F andF must be such that the axis of the trunnions b, when situated in one or the other of the said bearing surfaces, shall always be in one and the same arc of a circle struck from c, as its center. The upper bearing member or cap-square'I which completes the bearing of each trunnion is formed in a cap covermg both the two bearing surfaces F, F and the connecting track G. When the gun is arranged forfiring at low angles of inclination or where the Con venient limits of elevation are limited by the positionsindicated inFig. 1 in full lines and dot and. dash lines respectively, the gun can be quickly adapted for firing at high angles of elevation by proceeding as follows:

The cap in which the cap-square I is formed, and which may be fixed to the trail head by bolts 11 or any other suitable devices, is removed. The muzzle end of the gun barrel is raised and the trunnions b of the cradle are moved along the connecting tracks Gr until they rest in the upper bearing surfaces F ii The cap comprising the cap-square I can then be turned around through 180 relatively to the first position and fixed therein, as indicated in Fig. 2.

have. been turned in raising them.

The toothed sector or sectors D may as shown in Fig. 3, be guided in a slideway 7" formed in the underside of a halfrlng J that is movable about the cylindrical stay C between collars 0 on the latter. By this means the sectors D are perfectly guided in both positions'of the trunnions v V 'In Figs. 4 and '5 isshown a modlfieation wherein the cradle trunnions b are mounted in bearing steps K whose supporting sur- 1 faces 71: are made concave to correspond with the convexity of the track G. 'It is to be understood that the cap I- forming the capsquare is in this case suitably shaped to trunnions for the purpose of shifting. the,

- suitable device.

cover the special bearing step K. In I the rising and descending movements of the cradle for passing from the position shown in Fig. 1 into the position shown in Fig. 2,

or vice versa, the steps K are slid along the track G instead of sliding the trunnions 7) directly along said track.

In the construction shown in Flgs. 6, .7

and 8, two cap-squares I and I are pro vided for each trunnion b at the ends of' one and the same cap whichis hinged to the trail head by means of apivot-pin L and is thus capable of being raised to allow of shifting the trunnions from the lower trunnion bearing surfaces F into the upper trunnion bearing surfaces F and vice versa.

The cap may be fixed in the turned down position by means of a key Mor any other The caps are preferably provided with two nibs I for engagement in the trail head in the neighborhood of the lower bearing surfaces F. I As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, one of the cheeks of the trail head or both cheeks may be provided witha rack N projecting at the side of the track G that connects the bearing surfaces. Like the said track, the saidrack has its center of curvature on the axis e. '4 O is a short shaft carrying a pinion P. and adapted to be rotated by means of the crank Q. After having removed or raised the cor.- r'esponding capsquare,;the shaft 0 can be inserted in a bearing provided in one. of the trunnions b. When this operation has been effected, the entire device O.-P .Q, is. removed, and the cap-square is replaced in the suitable position. I

Having now describedgny invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by LettersPatent is a 1. An apparatus for extending the limits of elevationvofwheeled guns, consisting of ings at diflerent levels for the trunnions of thegun cradle, the .axesof said bearings being situated in onev and the same are of a1 Qi f le. havi g. s enter iv the .of the actuating pinion or 'pini'ons'. of the elevating sector or sectors, the said cradle trunnionsgbeing then capable of being shifted into one or the other pair' of bearing's for firing at low or high angles of elevation by simply raising the cradle and the gun barrel as a whole, without affecting in'any way the parts of the gun 01* its elevating mecha nisms.

2. In apparatus for. "extendinglthel limits ofelevation'of wheeled guns, atrail/head compr sing 1 two,v pairs of bearings at different levelsfor the trunnionsof the gun cradle,

said bearings having their axes in an arc of a circlefhaving its center in the axis of the actuating pinion or pinions of the elevating sece tor or sectors, and a circular track connect ing the bearings for each trunnion, said track i having its" center in or pinions- V 3. In apparatus for'extending the limits of, elevation of wheeled guns, in combination the axisfof' said pinion with thetrunnions of the gun-cradle, a trail I head. comprising two pairs of bearings at different levels for said trunnions, said bearingshaving their axes in an arc :ofa circle having ts center n the axlsofithe. actuating pinionfor pinions of the elevating sector or sectors, and means for shifting said trunnions from one pair of bearings to the other.

it. In apparatus for extending the limits of elevation, of wheeled .guns', in combination'with .the'trunnionspfthe gun cradle, a, l

trail head comprising two pairso'f bearings at difl'erent levels for said trunnions s'aid bearings having theiraxes in. an arc of a clrcle having 1ts center 1n the axls of the actuating pinion or pinions of the, elevating f sector or sectors, a circular track connectlng the bearings for each trunnion, said track havlng its 'center in theaxis of said pinion,

or pinions, {a rack concentric. ,w'ith fsaid tracks, and a plnlon. coeperatlng with saidrack for shift ng said trunnlons from one;

pairof hearings to the other.

i 5. In apparatus for extending" the of elevation of wheeled in combination with the trunnions of the gun cradle, a trail head comprising two pairs of bearing different levels for said trunnions, s v

ings havingtheir axes ,in an arc of; circle havlng its/center 1n the axis .ofthe'actuating pinion or piinions of the elevatingsector or sectors, a clrcular track connect ng the bearings for each trunnion, said track havingritsrcenter inthe axis ,of said pinions, a rack concentric with sai tracks, .a

inion; or

pinion adapted to coeperate with saidzrack hearings to the other, and operating for shifting said trunnionsfrom one pair of I head comprising two pairs of bearings at difl'erent levels for said trunnions, said bearin s havin their axes in an arc of a; circle having its center in the axis of the actuating pinion or pinions of the elevating sector or sectors, and pivoted means for retaining sa1d trunnions in either of said bearings.

7. In apparatus for extending the limits of elevation of wheeled guns, in combination with the trunnions of the gun cradle, a trail head comprising two pairs of bearings at diflerent levels for said trunnions, said bearings having their axes in an arc of a circle having its center in the axis of the actuating pinion or pinions of the elevating sector or sectors, a circular track connecting the bearings for each trunnion and having its center in the axis of said pinion or pinions, and a single member pivoted to said trail head for retaining each trunnion in either of its bearings.

8. In apparatus for extending the limits of elevation of wheeled guns, in combination with the trunnions of the gun cradle, a trail head comprising two pairs of bearings at diiferent levels for said trunnions, said betrings having their axes in an arc of a circle having its center in the axis of the actuatlng pinion or pinions of the elevating sector or sectors, means for shifting said trunnions from one pa r of bearings to the other, and pivotal means for retaining said trunnions in either of said bearings.

9. In apparatus for extending the limits of elevation of wheeled guns, in combination with the trunnions of the gun cradle, a' trail head comprising two pairs of bearings at different levels for said trunnions, said bearings having their axes in an arc of a circle having its center in the axis of the actuating pinion or pinions of the elevating sector or sectors, and a single member for retaining each trunnion in either of its bearings.

10. In apparatus for extending the limits of elevation of wheeled guns, in combination with the trunnions of the gun cradle, a trail head comprising two pairs of bearings at different levels for said trunnions, said. bearings having their axes in an arc of a circle having its center in the axis of the actuating pinion or pinions of the elevating sector or sectors, a circular track connecting the bearings for each trunnion and having its center in the axis of said pinion or pinions, a single member for retaining each trunnion in either of its bearings, and means for securing said member in trunnion-retaining position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. I EUGENE SCHNEIDER.

G Witnesses ANDRn NOSTIOKER, JOHN F. SIMONS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

